Apple coughs up G4 refunds to dissatisfied Danes

Still denies sudden ibook death syndrome

Apple will admit no wrongdoing, but has agreed to return money to Danish customers with allegedly defective iBook G4s. The concession comes after months of fighting a report from the Consumer Complaints Board (CCB) in Denmark that claims evidence of an original design flaw in the laptops.

A number of iBook G4 customers worldwide say that after only one year's use, the computers lose power and the screen goes blank.

The CCB investigation showed solder between two components loosen slightly each time the computer is turned on or off. With regular use, the joints break and no longer allow a current to pass through them.

Apple submitted its own technical report, which said the flaw did not occur through cycling the power. Earlier this month, the CCB ruled against Apple, dismissing the vendor's findings. The CCB reiterated that Apple must return money to customers for the faulty computers.

Apple was given 14 days to accept the decision or face public exposure on the board's list of "unwilling companies". reports the Danish tech pub, Comon.dk.

On Tuesday, the CCB announced Apple has agreed to their unhappy customers' kroner without admitting to the defect.

In a statement, the CCB's Frederik Navne Boesgaard said he was pleased that Apple accepted the arbitration. He hopes to move on to an improved dialog in both the consumer and Apple's best interest.